2 weeks Ago
A community group has placed more than 2,000 poppies across Radcliffe ahead of Remembrance Day and Remembrance Sunday. Volunteers from Radcliffe Litter Pickers and Growing Together began working on the project eight months ago and have created colourful, poignant displays all around the town for the fourth year in a row. Alongside the traditional red flowers, which are used as a symbol of hope and remembrance, volunteers have included white and purple poppies for the first time this year.
Both are relatively new concepts, with white poppies acknowledging all victims of war, including civilians and members of the armed forces, while also promoting peace. Red, white and purple poppies in Radcliffe (Image: supplied) Purple poppies represent the animals who have been lost in service such as horses, dogs and carrier pigeons. Each poppy in the new display has been handmade using old plastic bottles which have been painted and cut into petal shapes.
Volunteer Gill Smith said: “It’s such an important day and we wanted to create a visual display to help remember the fallen. “The new display recognises all casualties of war.” Volunteer Gill Smith with the red, white and purple poppies in Radcliffe ahead of Remembrance Day 2024 (Image: supplied) Remembrance Sunday is held on the second Sunday in November, falling on Sunday, November 10 this year, and is marked by ceremonies at local war memorials in most cities, towns and villages.
Remembrance Day takes place on November 11 each year and is commemorated in various ways, including a two-minute silence at 11am to honour those who fought and died in the two world wars and later conflicts. While poppies did not become a Remembrance tradition until 1921, they have since become an integral part of the commemoration. The poppy was chosen as it was the only flower left growing on the battlefields of France and Belgium after the war.
Red, white and purple poppies in Radcliffe ahead of Remembrance Day 2024 (Image: supplied) The Radcliffe poppy displays can be found at: Church Street West Garden Festival Gardens Barge Garden St Johns Safe Haven Gardens Incredible Edible Community Garden on Belmont Road St Marys Parish Church Gill added: “We are always looking for people to get involved in community projects.” Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer can contact Growing Together on Facebook..
